Dr. Norlain Dindang-Mababaya, Chairman of the Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES), presented a resolution on Islamic and peace education for tertiary level in the Philippines during the International Symposium on Muslim Education conducted at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel on 16-17 February 2009.

The highlights of the resolutions are:

• revising the curricular offerings of all Islamic Studies institutes/colleges in the Philippines to be in conformity with authentic teachings of Islam;
• including the following 6 subjects in all courses or fields of specialization: 1) Introduction to Islam According to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah, 2) Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith: Principles and Applications, 3) Da’wah According to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, 4) The Ideal Muslim and Muslimah: The True Islamic Personality of the Muslim as Defined in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, 5) Halal wal Haram (Lawful and Unlawful in Islam), and 6) Understanding the Life, Character and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): The Key To World Peace, Prosperity and Success in all colleges and universities in the Philippines where there are at least 10 Muslim students enrolled;
• requiring all non-Muslim students to take two of the mentioned subjects (i.e., Introduction to Islam and Understanding the Life, Character and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for them to understand Islam and the Muslims and thus foster peaceful co-existence of Muslims and non-Muslims in the Country;
• making Arabic Language as compulsory subject to all Muslim students and optional/elective subject for non-Muslims;
• encouraging colleges and universities to conduct/sponsor lectures, seminars, or conferences on understanding Islam based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah; and
• establishing Office/Department of Islamic and Arabic Studies in all colleges and universities in the Philippines where there are Muslim students enrolled.

The resolution was positively endorsed by the conference delegates on the following grounds:

• Islam as a religion and a complete way of life that teaches peace and well-balanced development of mankind has been misunderstood worldwide due to people’s lack of authentic knowledge of Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah;
• Higher educational institutions in the Philippines offering Islamic Studies, in general, are not based on authentic sources;
• There is a need to foster understanding of Islam according to its authentic sources in order to promote global peace and sustainable socio-economic development;
• Education plays vital role in fostering Islamic understanding for global peace and sustainable socio-economic development;
• The Department of Education and Cultures (DECs) (DepEd Order No. 46 S 2006) has already approved the enriched curriculum for public schools (which started offering Islamic Studies and Arabic language in the elementary level in the school year 2005-2006) and standard curriculum for Private Madaris;
• During the Lanao Educators’ Conference on Relevant Higher Education Curricula for Muslims in the Philippines on August 16, 2007, MSU, Marawi City, the Commission on Higher Education Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (CHED-ARMM) has approved the proposal submitted by the Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES) to  include the following 6 subjects in all courses or fields of specialization: 1) Introduction to Islam According to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah, 2) Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith: Principles and Applications, 3) Da’wah According to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, 4) The Ideal Muslim and Muslimah: The True Islamic Personality of the Muslim as Defined in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, 5) Halal wal Haram (Lawful and Unlawful in Islam), and 6) Understanding the Life, Character and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ): The Key To World Peace, Prosperity and Success; and also to include Qur'an reading/recitation and Arabic language as compulsory subjects for Muslim college students;
• All the 6 Islamic subjects proposed by WISHES and approved by CHED-ARMM endeavor to attain individuals’ development for a well-balanced life – i.e., the development of the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of mankind, which according to Section 12 and 13 of Article II Declaration of Principles and State Policies, Constitution of the Philippines, shall receive the support of the Government.  By learning the said Islamic subjects, the youths become God-fearing, law-abiding and peace-loving citizens, and thus, become assets of the Philippine society and national body politic;
• It is imperative for higher education to play its role  to foster Islamic understanding according to its authentic sources for global peace and sustainable socio-economic development as this is in line with RA 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994, where the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is mandated to undertake the following tasks: 1) Promote quality education, 2) Take appropriate steps to ensure that education shall be accessible to all, and 3. Ensure and protect academic freedom for the continuing intellectual growth, the advancement of learning and research, the development of responsible and effective leadership, the education of high level professionals, and the enrichment of historical and cultural heritage;
• Quality education among Muslims in the Philippines call for making education more relevant to their needs, aspirations and culture; Islam is the very culture of the Muslims therefore college Muslim students in all parts of the country need to learn Islam based on authentic sources as well as learn Qur'an reading/recitation and Arabic language to foster peace and socio-economic development;
• Non-Muslim students of the Philippine tertiary education also need to learn at least two of the Islamic Studies subjects and Arabic Language in order for them to understand Islam and the Muslims and thus foster peaceful co-existence of Muslims and non-Muslims in the Country and hence promoting sustainable socio-economic development in the Country.